	Applies To
	Product(s):	WaterGEMS, WaterCAD, SewerGEMS, CivilStorm, StormCAD, StormCAD, HAMMER
	Version(s):	08.11.XX.XX and later

Problem

Can ModelBuilder or LoadBuilder use shapefiles (or a Geodatabase, when integrated with ArcGIS) that have just a defined geographic coordinate system? (degrees of latitude and longitude)

After using ModelBuilder to import my network, the coordinates are not populated and all elements are in the same location.

Solution

Starting with version 2026 (26.00.00.XXX and higher), ModelBuilder and LoadBuilder can recognize the Coordinate System (CS) of external data (like shapefiles and geodatabases) including a CS which use a geographic coordinate system (using degrees / latitude and longitude). The hydraulic model itself currently only supports projected coordinate systems (so the model elements have X and Y coordinates in linear units), but ModelBuilder and LoadBuilder will be able to reproject the external data's geographic CS, to the model's projected CS (the model CS must first be specified).

See: Working with coordinate systems in the OpenFlows standalone platform

Older versions (2024 and earlier)

In version 2024 and earlier, ModelBuilder and LoadBuilder cannot use a shapefile or geodatabase that has just a geographic coordinate system defined because a geographic coordinate system only takes into account angular units (degrees or gradians). This means that there are no measured linear units, such as meters or feet, assigned to the file. Because these older versions did not have the built in reprojection and CS awareness capability, they can only work with external data that use "projected" coordinate systems with linear units of measure.

If you are on an older version and cannot upgrade, you will need to reproject the data into a projected coordinate system first before using it in ModelBuilder or LoadBuilder. This will assign measurable linear units to the file after which ModelBuilder and LoadBuilder should be able to properly recognize the spatial locations of the elements. If you have access to ArcGIS, this is done using the Project tool in ArcToolbox. From ArcToolbox, go to Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > Project.

Next, you will get the dialog below:

Enter the shapefile you need to reproject under Input Dataset or Feature Class. A name will be automatically generated for the Output Dataset. Next, click the Spatial Reference Properties button next the Output Coordinate System field to send the coordinate system you wish to use.

What if my model is already built?

If your model was already built and you need to move it to a new, coordinate system, you can navigate to File > Options > Hydraulic Model and change the Coordinate System (available in version 26.00.00.XXX and higher). When prompted, choose to reproject. The new Coordinate System must be projected, as models currently only work in linear units (X and Y coordinates in feet or meters for example, not in degrees of latitude and longitude).

For version 2024 and older, you will need to update the coordinate/geometry of the existing model elements to a reprojected version using the process described in the following article, using ArcGIS or QGIS: Is it possible to reproject a model to a different coordinate system?

Importing Data in Geographic Coordinate systems (latitude and longitude degrees)

Problem

Solution

Older versions (2024 and earlier)

What if my model is already built?

See Also